COLUMBUS, Ohio — First responders and law enforcement officers could soon get some extra cash. State lawmakers have introduced a bill to offer a one-time award for full-time and part-time workers simply for doing their jobs during the pandemic.​

State Representatives Craig Riedel, R-Defiance, and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, said the reason for the bill is because respect for law and order is a must. Also, first responders and law enforcement worked in an "uncontrolled environment" while others did not have to.

"First responders and law enforcement, the state of Ohio has your back because we know that you have our back. And for that, we are very thankful," said Riedel.

Riedel said after seeing Florida's $1,000 commitment for its first responders last month and a letter from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, R-Ohio, Riedel felt Ohio should follow suit.

So he, Plummer and Yost came up with a plan.

"Full-time first responders will receive a $1,000 bonus award,” Riedel said. “Part-time first and voluntary first responders will receive a $500 bonus award.”

Those in line for the bonus would include police officers, firefighters, Ohio State Highway Patrol officers, county deputy sheriffs, Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents, jail officers, volunteer firefighters and EMTs. Also, they must have continuously worked from March 1, 2020, until now and have not gotten in any trouble.

Employers would have 30 days to submit who is eligible for the award to the Ohio Attorney General's Office once the bill is signed into law. Then, the AG's office would distribute the money.

The program is expected to cost $83 million all paid for by the federal American Rescue Plan.

"I'm sure the critics will say this could be a waste of tax dollars,” Plummer said. “Well, this is the federal dollars that we have to spend and we figure this is a good investment. People will also say well why don't we give it to the nurses? Why don't we give it to so and so? Well, the law enforcement officers (they) don’t work in a controlled environment.” 

Yost said he believes the bill is paramount for two other reasons. First, law enforcement had its deadliest year ever in the line of duty last year due to COVID-19. Second, he said morale has never been lower than it is right now and police departments are having a tough time with recruiting.

“It’s possible to believe two things at once,” Yost said. “It's possible to back the blue and want racial justice. It's possible to support law enforcement and law and order and still want accountability for the few that act wrongly.”

Riedel said the hope is to have the bill become part of the state budget so it gets passed by the end of the month.

"If things work out the way we hope, this bonus award will likely be available to our law enforcement and first responders the latter part of this year which will really come in handy that time of the year with the holiday season," said Riedel.